I was wondering how I can feel better about myself? I’ve always thought I wasn’t that beautiful. I have a naturally red nose, so I look like Rudolph! I also have lots of acne, too. I do see a dermatologist, but it doesn’t seem to get better! I don’t like my hair, either! It’s so thin! I’m also a bit overweight (at least I think)…my stomach is large and sticks out like a balloon! Please help me! I feel ugly!

ANSWER:

It sounds like your issues are mostly self-esteem issues. I’ll offer solutions to the issues you wrote about, but no beauty secret can substitute for self-esteem. No matter what you look like, only you can make yourself feel beautiful. I have a friend who felt similarly about herself at your age and now looks back on her high school pictures and wishes she had enjoyed how truly beautiful she was.

I suspect that just like my friend, you are more beautiful than you think. Pray to God and ask for him to open your eyes to how truly beautiful you are. Tell yourself you are beautiful every day, even if you don’t always mean it.

Now to address the issues you wrote about — I think that helping you with these will also help your self-esteem because I know I feel far better about myself when I’m taking good care of myself.

RED SKIN

The redness in your skin could be due to irritation. Make sure you’re not using any products that contain alcohol, witch hazel or fragrant plant extracts. Irritation can also cause acne. I’m going to assume that you have combination/oily skin to create an example skin care routine for you.

1. First, wash your face with CeraVe foaming cleanser. This cleanser is gentle and will cleanse your skin without irritation that can cause acne and redness. Any cleanser that has acne-fighting ingredients will be ineffective because it’s not on the skin long enough to work.

2. Follow up with Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating acne treatment applied all over your face. This has salicylic acid, which means that it’s an exfoliant that can prevent acne and keep skin soft. Most salicylic acid products contain alcohol or witch hazel which can irritate the skin and cause acne.

4. Follow this with a sunscreen during the day such as Trader Joe’s Enrich Face Lotion SPF 15 and a moisturizer (if needed) at night like CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. I know this routine to be very effective and if you have any questions or concerns feel free to let me know and I can adjust this routine accordingly.

THIN HAIR

There are a few products that can do wonders for thin hair. You can start in the shower by using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Many brands make this type of product and it can be easily found at the drugstore. If your hair is dry, try using a dry shampoo sprayed into the roots to give volume. Got2B and Suave have dry shampoo products that you can find in your local drugstore. Got2B also makes PowderFull, a volumizing powder that can be sprinkled into the roots and massaged in; this stuff creates a lot of volume!

HEALTHY WEIGHT

If you feel like you need to slim down, make sure you find an exercise you enjoy that you can do several times a week. One thing that really helped me also is to know what appropriate portion sizes are when it comes to meals.

I don’t always like stopping to measure out my food. Solution: You can measure your food portions very simply with a plate.

Here’s how:

Take a look at your meal on your plate. It should be half full of vegetables, a quarter meat/protein and a quarter carbohydrates. This simple method has helped me a lot, especially when I was going through adolescence.

I hope that you feel better about yourself soon because I know you truly are beautiful!

[image: thinkstock.com]

Do you have any concerns with how you look, or want some additional advice? Leave your question here, and I’ll give you my best advice! -Nicole

Jamie is a makeup artist based in Los Angeles, CA. She works in multiple mediums including print and film. Jamie also writes for a blog she curates that focuses on affordable cosmetics. In her spare time she likes to play guitar, write songs, paint and sculpt. Jamie is thrilled to combine her love for makeup artistry and God when she writes for Project Inspired.

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